Self-care behaviors and informational needs of seropositive homosexual/bisexual men.

Patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related complex (ARC) are developing beliefs, behaviors, and a knowledge bases that may affect their health status, sense of well-being, and health care needs. However, little documentation of these changes exists. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to describe AIDS beliefs, behaviors, and informational needs of homosexual/bisexual human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive patients 7 years into the epidemic. Data were collected once from 178 patients using a modified version of the AIDS Beliefs and Behaviors Questionnaire (ABBQ). Study results showed that in 1987, most outpatients (73%) in an AIDS epicenter wanted more information about building their immune systems. Few patients (12%) wanted more explicit information about safe sexual behaviors, although 3 years into the epidemic this information was a central concern. Results suggest that health professionals need to take an active role in monitoring and addressing patients' changing informational needs.